I had a rather serious motorbike accident @ age 19 & I was left with life changing injuries. I had to stop all forms of exercise as a result.
Fast forward to age 39. I was going into town & I briskly ran up a flight of 12 steps, at the top I was completely out of breath & I couldn’t believe how out of shape I was. I suddenly realised that I was gonna be 40 the next year & my lack of fitness was frightening. I decided there & then to get fit @ forty.
I bought a Raleigh Max Y frame full susser as you do when you shop @ Halfrauds, well all the kids were riding them so they must be good? I started slowly & gradually built up the mileage to the point that I was able to do a 32 mile charity cycle ride just before I was 40.
I had the bike for 4 years & clocked up over 4,000 miles on it mainly commuting & riding on the road shod with commuter tyres. I even did BHF London to Brighton on it & the Norwich 100 mile ride also for BHF. I then did the Devon C2C ride which was 115 miles one way in a day & it broke down on the way back the next day, this made me realise that it really wasn’t designed to do the type of mileage I wanted to ride.
I then bought a Spesh stumpjumper HT & I couldn’t believe how much lighter it was & how much faster I could go. The best bit was riding a proper MTB off road on Dartmoor rather than mincing down the cycle paths. I’ve been riding off road ever since & commuting during the Summer. I’ve also flashed out for a full susser too as I’m getting on a bit now & it’s gentler on my body. I love MTBing & I love riding bikes.
I’m now at age 49 & 3/4 probably the fittest I’ve ever been & happier too.